Sometime on December 16, John Costelloe was found dead in the blue-collar Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. According to unoffficial police reports, the incident appears to be a suicide.

John Costelloe is a renowned Brooklyn actor for his character as Johnny Cakes Witowski, a gay fireman who was also the lover of a mob capo on “The Sopranos.” He appeared in four episodes of the show where he is a short-order cook who was in love with Vito Spatafore portrayed by Joseph Gannascoli, Costolloe’s real-life friend. On the show, homophobic monsters killed Vito.

Before becoming an actor, Costolloe served in the New York Fire Department. He appeared in Die Hard II as Sgt. Oswald Cochrane and appeared in episode of Law and Order and Central Park West. He was also appearing in an off-off Broadway play entitled “Gang of Seven.” The show’s playwright told that it seems the actor was bothered by something which the latter never explained. However, a friend told New York Post, he saw the actor three weeks ago when he stopped by, and he seemed to be in good spirits.

Cops and pals say that Costelloe shot himself in the head in his basement bedroom which is indeed a holiday tragedy that has stunned his family and friends.